Don't "blowout" your vacation on the road

The summer driving season has begun and AAA expects more drivers on the road because of the low gas prices.

National Tire Safety week began Tuesday and motorists are encouraged to check car tires before beginning the road trip.

There's nothing like car trouble to ruin a vacation.

Our crew found a stranded SUV on I-55 southbound Tuesday. The rear driver's side tire was blown out and shredded.

"It's very dangerous," Mike Patton, manager of Big 10 Tires in Jackson said. "Typically we suggest you put the new tires on the rear so if you have a blowout you don't lose control."

Experts say before heading out on a trip, make sure to have your tires rotated and properly aligned..

It's also important to check the air pressure in your tires.

Experts caution that under-inflated tires can lead to tire failure.

"The tire gauge is real cheap. It's real easy to buy," Patton said. "If you want to check the air pressure, most cars have about 35 pounds of air and most trucks have about 40."

How do you know how much air to put in your tires? It's pretty simple; just look inside on the door panel or owner's manual.

The added benefit of properly inflated tires is that they are going to last longer and you may actually get more miles on the road.

The tread on your tires is also important to check. Experts can measure just how much tread wear is left.

"We use a tread depth gauge which we recommend to everybody," Patton said. "It measures the 2/32's of the tire. Most tires have about 10-12/32's of tread. We recommend replacing them at 2 to 3 32/s of tread"

You should also be sure to check the age of your tires and your spare.

To find out when the tire was made look for the DOT number on the tire wall.

The organization predicted 10 to 16 tropical systems, with five to nine becoming hurricanes. One to four of those hurricanes is predicted to develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or above.

The organization predicted 10 to 16 tropical systems, with five to nine becoming hurricanes. One to four of those hurricanes is predicted to develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or above.